Insert having interconnecting channel morphology for aldehyde absorption

ABSTRACT

A method of making an insert and an insert for aldehyde absorption having a co-continuous interconnecting channel morphology comprising at least three components, (a) wherein component A is selected from the group of polymers that are semicrystalline polymers and amorphous polymers, wherein the amorphous polymers have a shear modulus greater than about 8 MPa; (b) wherein component B is a polymer; (c) wherein components A and B are immiscible within each other and, if components A and B react after mixing, components A and B are immiscible prior to reaction; (d) wherein component C is a particle and comprises a sulfite compound; (e) wherein the volume fraction of component A represents at least about 50% by volume of the total volume of components A, B and C; (f) wherein the preferential affinity between component B and component C is greater than between component A and component C; (g) wherein at least two phases are formed, one phase is composed of a majority of component A, and the second phase is composed of a majority of component B and a majority of component C; and (h) wherein the two phases form the co-continuous interconnecting channel morphology.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/504,029,filed Feb. 14, 2000, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 09/122,912, filed on Jul. 27, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,255which in turn is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/611,298, filed Mar. 5, 1996now U.S. Pat. No.5,911,937, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser.No. 08/424,996, filed Apr. 19, 1995, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a method and composition foran aldehyde absorbing insert that absorbs aldehyde emitted fromcontainers, including e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) bottles,which hold a beverage or drink (e.g food product) or otherenvironmentally sensitive products (e.g. pharmaceutical products). Inone embodiment, the insert is in a form of a molded cover, includinge.g. a screw cap, that is composed, at least in part, of the compositionof the present invention. In an embodiment, the composition of thepresent invention may be in a form of an induction seal. In a furtherembodiment, the composition of the present invention may be in a form ofa liner that has an exterior surface substantially conforming to atleast a portion of an interior surface of the container body. In oneembodiment, the aldehyde absorber insert is composed of a compositionhaving continuous interconnecting channel morphology comprising threecomponents—two polymers (i.e. components A and B) and a particle (i.e.component C) wherein the channels consist mainly of component B and themajority of component C resides in the channels. Components A and B aregenerally immiscible within each other. In addition, one criteria forselecting component C and components A and B may be based on component Cpreferential affinity for component B over component A. Another criteriafor selecting component C may be based on the capacity of component C toabsorb aldehyde compounds. For example, component C may be a mixture of:(a) an earth alkaline oxide and/or alkaline oxide; and (b) a sulfitesuch as sodium metabisulfite.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic materials offer the packaging industry many benefits including adegree of design flexibility. Specifically, polyethylene terephthalate(PET) has made significant inroads into bottling and packagingapplications at the expense of the use of glass containers but primarilyin applications where the needs for barrier properties are modest. Anincreased wall thickness is needed to improve the barrier properties ofthe container but has a negative impact on the economics of thecontainer. The ratio of packaging material to package volume hastypically limited PET bottles to multi-serve container uses forpackaging of oxygen sensitive foods and beverages such as fruit juicesand drinks. In addition, a container such as a bottle composed ofplastic (e.g. PET) emits acid aldehyde volatiles that are absorbed bythe liquid within the container and that may detrimentally affect thequality of the liquid including the taste and/or stability.

Moreover, when compared to traditional packaging materials such as glassand steel, plastics such as PET offer inferior barrier properties whichlimits their acceptability for use in packaging items that are sensitiveto atmospheric gases, particularly when the exposure to the atmosphericgases will entail extended time periods. In response to this inferiorbarrier properties, the packaging industry has attempted to developtechnology to improve the barrier properties of plastic containers bydeveloping multi-layer containers that offer mixed polymer layers. Theselaminated packaging containers offer improved barrier properties butsacrifice many of the recycling benefits associated with single layercontainers such as PET and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) bottles.Furthermore, depending on the mixtures of polymers, copolymers, blends,etc., used in the layers, clarity of the layered container is oftensubstantially diminished.

In addition, many containers are typically sealed either by a screw capand/or an “induction seals” as an additional method of preventing oxygeningress into the container. In one example, induction seals aregenerally composed of aluminum foil with a plastic sealant layer withadhesive. Ribbons of this foil/plastic lamination are used by thecap/lid makers to die-cut seals and friction fit them into thecaps/lids. In high speed filling lines, once the containers are filledand the caps fitted with induction seals mounted on the container (e.g.bottles, jars, cartons), the containers pass through a radio-frequencytunnel. The radio frequency activates the adhesive on the induction sealliner and it adheres to the container's access rim. In the case ofbottles or cartons, the caps/lids are then tightened. In anotherexample, the induction seal may be composed completely of a plasticmaterial that is sealed by a conventional induction heating process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is absorption data of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an absorption profile of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention.

The present invention relates to an aldehyde absorber insert having aninterconnecting channel morphology. In one embodiment, theinterconnecting channel morphology composition of the present inventionmay be formed comprising at least three components, wherein: (a)component A is selected from the group of polymers that aresemicrystalline polymers and amorphous polymers, wherein the amorphouspolymers have a shear modulus greater than about 8 MPa; (b) component Bis a polymer; (c) components A and B are immiscible within each other,and if components A and B react after mixing, components A and B areimmiscible prior to reacting; (d) component C is a particle; (e) thevolume fraction of component A represents at least about 50% by volumeof the total volume of components A, B and C; (f) the preferentialaffinity between component B and component C is greater than betweencomponent A and component C; (g) at least two phases are formed, onephase is composed of a majority of component A, and the second phase iscomposed of a majority of components B and a majority of component C;and (h) two phases form the co-continuous interconnecting channelmorphology.

In an embodiment, components B is selected so that it increases thetransport of the aldehyde volatiles through the plastic. Component C isselected so that it has the desired capacity to absorb the volatilealdehydes (e.g. emitted for PET bottles). For example, component C maybe a sulfite compound such as sodium metabisulfite.

For purposes of the present invention, the term “phase” means a portionof a physical system that is uniform throughout, has defined boundariesand, in principle, can be separated physically from other phases. Theterm “water-insoluble polymer” means a polymer having a solubility inwater below about 0.1% at 25° C., and atmospheric pressure. The term“hydrophilic agent” is defined as a material that is not substantiallycross-linked and that has a solubility in water of at least about 1% at25° C., and atmospheric pressure. Suitable hydrophilic agents include“channeling” agents. The term “melting point” is defined as the firstorder transition point of the material determined by DSC. The term “notmutually soluble” means immiscible with each other. The term“immiscibility” means that the components of the blend are driven bythermodynamic forces to separate (i.e. demix) into two or more distinctphases that will coexist indefinitely under equilibrium conditions. Anexample is the separation of the oil-rich and water-rich phases in asalad dressing. For purposes of the present invention, “partial”immiscibility or “partial” miscibility is deemed “immiscible” and thus,any tendency for a component to phase separate from another component isdeemed “immiscible.” Immiscibility may be determined by the applicationof one or more forms of microscopy (e.g., optical, TEM, SEM or AFM) withan observation that the components are separated into two or moredistinct phases. The term “particle” means a dispersed component that iseither a crystalline or amorphous solid, or a crosslinked organic orinorganic material, and that retains its shape, aside from recoverabledeformations, before, during, and after the blend is compounded in themolten state at elevated temperatures. This would include, e.g., acrosslinked polymer latex.

Further, for purposes of the present invention, the term “co-continuousinterconnecting channel morphology” means that the minor phase (i.e.,component B) is drawn out into interconnected channels that contain apercolation path, while simultaneously, the majority phase (i.e.,component A) is percolating. “Percolation” means that there exists atleast one unbroken path, composed only of points from within that phase,that will lead from any surface of a sample through the interior of thesample to any other surface. Such a percolation path provides a routefor a desired object, such as a small molecule, an atom, an ion, or anelectron, to be macroscopically transported across the sample whilecontacting only one of the phases. For some systems, the existence of aninterconnecting channel morphology that is co-continuous may bedetermined by a minimum of two transport measurements that demonstratepercolation in both minor and major phases. Percolation theory is amature branch of mathematics and physical science that is described in avariety of review articles, specialized monographs, and manyintroductory texts on stochastic processes, probability theory, andstatistical mechanics. For example, an introductory treatment ofpercolation theory is described by D. Stauffer in Introduction toPercolation Theory, Taylor and Francis, (London 1985).

The term “preferential affinity” means that the particle (i.e.,component C) has a lower interfacial energy when contacting onecomponent than compared to contacting another component. A suitablemethod for determining “preferential affinity” for the present inventionis the following:

(a) Blend the particle with the two components at elevated temperaturesin their liquid state. Mix to achieve a macroscopically homogeneousdispersion.

(b) Cool the mixture and allow to solidify.

(c) Use a form of microscopy (e.g., TEM, SEM, and/or AFM) on a thinsection to determine which of the two phases most closely contacts eachparticle in the field of view.

(d) The component that is in the majority in the phase that contacts thelargest number of particles is the component with “preferentialaffinity” for the particle.

Further, the term “shear modulus” is the ratio of a measured shearstress to the magnitude of a small, elastically recoverable, shearstrain that is used to produce that stress. The criterion of greaterthan about 8 MPa refers to the shear modulus measured at roomtemperature. The “shear modulus” is determined by ASTM test methodE143-87 (1998). The term “polymer” means a composition that is made byreacting two or more molecular species (“monomers”) to formchemically-bonded larger molecules. The term “semicrystalline” meansthat the polymeric component, at ambient temperature, contains regionsin which chain segments are packed with spatial registry into a periodiclattice and these regions are of sufficient size and extent to exhibit adetectable melting endotherm in a differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) measurement. The term “amorphous” means that the polymericcomponent, at ambient temperature, either contains no regions ofperiodic packing of segments, or such regions are undetectable with aDSC measurement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, inserts may be in a form of amolded cover, including e.g. a screw cap, that is composed, at least inpart, of the composition of the present invention. In yet anotherembodiment, the insert of the present invention may be in a form of aninduction seal—a closure for a container (e.g. bottle, carton) thatincludes an inner seal, which is sealed to an outlet opening of thecontainer by a conventional induction heating process or the like toform an “induction” seal. With an induction seal, a hermetic, vacuumretaining seal can be provided for maintaining the integrity of thebeverage. This inner seal may also eliminate the possibility of leakageduring distribution and storage of the container but is also designed tobe removable when the consumer intentionally applies sufficient force soas to access the contents of the container. Further, the induction sealmay also prevent the liquid (e.g. beverage) in the container from cominginto contact with the closure or cap of the container. In anotherembodiment, to facilitate removal of the induction the seal, theinduction seal may include suitable pull tabs, as is conventional. Inanother embodiment, the insert may be a closure or cap and furtherincludes a closure base having an internally threaded sleeve which isthreadedly joined to the outlet opening of the container.

In yet another embodiment, the insert of the present invention may beused as liners or gaskets in crowns or closures for capping beveragecontainers. Entire closures may also be made of plastics containingcompositions of the invention, for instance all plastic screw-onthreaded caps for soft drink bottles, and the like. Another use of thecomposition of the invention is as a gasket or liner applied and securedto an aluminum or plastic closure or metal crown for plastic or glassbottles.

Component A may typically be selected based on its permeabilityproperties (e.g. barrier properties), its chemical and/or temperatureresistance properties, its molding properties, and/or its price (e.g.since it is the component having the largest volume fraction of thecomposition). In one embodiment, component A may be composed ofconventional bottle closure linings such as thermoplastic materials—PVCor EVA, polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), polyolefins such aspolyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), or blends thereof. Otherexamples of suitable thermoplastic materials may include polyolefinssuch as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polysiloxane,polycarbonates, polyamides, ethylenevinyl acetate copolymers,ethylene-methacrylate copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene,polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfones, polyacrylicester, acrylic, polyurethane and polyacetal, or copolymers or mixturesthereof. With respect to component A, in one embodiment, component A maybe a water-insoluble polymer. In order to attain the optimum combinationof moldability, resilience, sealability, etc., these materials may beformulated to include plasticizers, heat stabilizers, lubricants,blowing agents, antioxidants, pigments, and other additives. Theseadditive components are well known to one skilled in the art.

Similarly, for example, component B may be a polymer that is selectedbased on its transport properties (e.g. transfer of the aldehydesvolatiles) and/or its preferential affinity with component C.Consequently, a specific composition may be uniquely tailored and thus,uniquely optimized for a desired aldehyde absorption. In one embodiment,component B may be a hydrophilic agent. Suitable hydrophilic agents ofthe present invention may include polyglycols such as poly(ethyleneglycol) and poly(propylene glycol) and mixtures thereof. Other suitableB components may be oxides such as polyethylene oxide and otherpolyoxides and mixtures of polyglycols and polyoxides. Other suitablematerials may include EVOH, pentaerithritol, PVOH, polyvinylpyrollidine,vinylpyrollidone or poly(N-methyl pyrollidone), and saccharide basedcompounds such as glucose, fructose, and their alcohols, mannitol,dextrin, and hydrolized starch being suitable for the purposes of thepresent invention since they are hydrophilic compounds.

In another embodiment, suitable hydrophilic agents of the presentinvention may also include any hydrophilic material wherein, duringprocessing, the hydrophilic agent is heated above its melt point uponmelt mixing, and subsequently upon cooling separates from the polymer toform the interconnecting channeled structure of the present inventionand a three phase system of a water-insoluble polymer, hydrophilic agentand an absorbing material. With respect to component B, for example,component B's loading level can range from about 3% to 5%, 5% to 8%, 8%to 12%, 12% to 15%, 15% to 25% and 25% to 30% by weight with respect tocomponent A.

In one embodiment, Component C is a compound selected from sulfites. Forexample, sulfites may include, but are not limited to, calcium sulfite,sodium sulfite and potassium sulfite and mixtures thereof. In anotherexample, Component C may be a compound selected from the group ofmetabisulfites including sodium metabisulfite and potassiummetabisulfite and mixtures thereof. In various embodiments, componentC's loading level can range from about 3% to 5%, 5% to 10%, 10% to 20%,20% to 40%, 40% to 60% and 60% to 75% by weight with respect tocomponent A.

In a further embodiment, Component C may be a combination of: (a) earthalkaline oxide and/or alkaline oxide; and (b) sulfite. It is believedthat the addition of the earth alkaline oxide and/or alkaline oxideassists in minimizing the sulfur dioxide partial pressure during thereaction of the sulfite with the aldehyde to form a hydroxy sulfonate,which is a stable compound. Suitable earth alkaline oxide and/oralkaline oxide compounds include, but are not limited to, calcium oxide.

For example, one method of forming the composition of the presentinvention is by adding component C and component B to component A, whichin one example is a water-insoluble polymer, when component A is in amolten state; or before component A is in the molten state, so thatcomponents B and C may be uniformly blended throughout component A. Forexample, such a technique may be useful when components A, B and C areall powders. In another embodiment, component B (such as a hydrophilicagent) and component A are mixed prior to adding component C. ComponentB is either added before component A is in the molten state or aftercomponent A is in the molten state. For example, component C may beadded to component A during the thermal process of forming sheets. Afterblending and processing, component B is drawn out into interconnectingchannels that contain a percolation path in component A. The majority ofcomponent C resides in the interconnecting channels because of itspreferential affinity towards component B over component A. In addition,the composition of the present invention may be described as“monolithic” because the composition does not consist of two or morediscrete macroscopic layers.

It is believed that the higher the absorbing material (i.e component C)concentration in the mixture, the greater the absorption capacity willbe of the final composition. However, the higher absorbing materialconcentration should cause the body to be more brittle and the mixtureto be more difficult to either thermally form, extrude or injectionmold. In one embodiment, the absorbing material loading level can rangefrom about 10% to 20%, 20% to 40% and 40% to 60% by weight with respectto the polymer (i.e. component A).

In yet another embodiment, components A, B and C are first dry mixed ina mixer such as a Henschel, and then fed to a compounder. A Leistritztwin screw extruder, for example, or a Werner Pfleider mixer can be usedto achieve a good melt mix at about 70° C. to about 95° C. The melt canthen be either extruded to form, for example, the final insert orconverted into pellets using dry air cooling on a vibrating conveyer.The formed pellets, containing channels, can, for example, then beeither injection molded, blow molded or other types of molding intobottles, pouches, containers, caps, or co-injected with a plastic as theinside layer of a container.

In a more specific example, the following components were firstuniformly mixed together (all percentages are by weight of total): (a)about 32% of a polyolefin elastomer (manufacturer was DuPont DowElastomers and the tradename was “Engage 8401”); (b) about 32% of apolyolefin (manufacturer was Union Carbide and the tradename was “PE1077”); (c) about 5% of a polyethylene oxide (manufacturer was UnionCarbide and the trade name was “Polyox 750”); (d) about 5% of apoly(ethylene glycol) (manufacturer was Dow Chemical, and the tradenamewas “E-4500”); (e) about 6% of a calcium oxide; and (f) about 20% of asodium metabisulfite. After the mixture was uniformly mixed, it was fedto Leistritz twin screw extruder operating at about 70° C. to about 95°C. A film of nominal thickness of about 12 mil. was formed. The film wastested for the amount of aldehyde absorption per time. The film samplewas cut into 5 m² pieces and placed in a sealed container with 150 mL ofa 37% formaldehyde solution stabilized with methanol. At selected timeintervals, a representative film sample and molded part piece wereremoved and capped in a headspace vial. The samples were tested by gaschromatography. The absorption data is shown in FIG. 1A and the profileof the sample is shown in FIG. 1B.

Moreover, in a further embodiment, it is believed that a composition maybe formed having channels composed of two discrete polymers (e.g.components B and B′) with each type of channel composed of a majority ofeither the same particles (e.g. component C) or different particles(e.g. components C and C′) where B/B′ and C/C′ are selected, among othercharacteristics, based on their preferential affinities with each other.For example, a composition may be formed, wherein: (a) component A is asemicrystalline polymer; (b) component B and B′ are polymers; (c)components A, B and B′ are immiscible within each other; (d) componentsC and C′ are particles; (e) the volume fraction of component Arepresents at least about 34% by volume of the total volume ofcomponents A, B, B′ , C and C′; (f) the preferential affinity betweencomponents B and C is greater than either between components A and C andbetween components B′ and C; (g) the preferential affinity betweencomponents B′ and C′ is greater than either between components A and C′and between components B and C′; (h) at least three phases are formed,one phase is composed of a majority of component A, the second phase iscomposed of a majority of component B and a majority of component C, andthe third phase is composed of a majority of components B′ and amajority of components C′; and (i) at least three phases form theco-continuous interconnecting channel morphology. It is further believedthat such a composition could be designed to have multiplecharacteristics. For example, a select channel morphology could havehigh oxygen moisture transmission properties with a majority ofinclusion compound residing in these channels and another channelmorphology within the same composition could have high aldehydetransmission properties with aldehyde absorbers. In addition, as anotherexample, additional channel morphology may also be designed usingadditional components (e.g. components B″, B′″, . . . and C″, C′″. . .).

In yet a further embodiment, because the composition of the presentinvention may typically be more brittle than component A withoutcomponents B and C, the insert (e.g. cap) may be molded so that aninterior portion of the seal is the composition of the present inventionwhile the exterior portions are formed from pure polymer or thecomposition of the present invention with a lower loading levelcomponents B and/or C. For example, an insert having an interior portioncomposed of the composition of the present invention and an exteriorportion composed of pure polymer typically will not only be more durableand less brittle, but it will also act as a gas barrier that resists thetransmission of the vapor from the exterior into the interior of thepackage. In this manner, the absorption capacity of component C ispotentiated by exposing it exclusively to the interior of the packagefrom which it is desired that the vapor be withdrawn and retainedtherefrom.

In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention may beformed into an insert for inclusion within the interior of thecontainer. An example of one form of an insert is a plug or sleeve ofany suitable shape. While the plug would serve its purpose by beingmerely deposited within the container or within the inside of the cap,it may also be fixed to an interior location so that it does move aboutwithin the interior space. In a further embodiment, it is anticipatedthat a plug formed into a disc may be shaped and sized to be pressed fitinto the inside of the cap.

In another embodiment, a liner may be formed from the composition of thepresent invention that has an exterior surface substantially conformingto an interior surface of the container body. Like the disc, the linermay be sized so that it may be press-fit into position within thepolymer body where it is held sufficiently snugly to prevent itsunintended disengagement therefrom. Alternatively, in a furtherembodiment, either the plug or liner may be initially constructed andallowed to harden, and then the container body subsequently constructedthereabout so that the greater shrinkage characteristics of the polymerbody not containing absorbing material tightly shrink-fits the containerbody about the plug or liner so that neither becomes easily disengagedfrom the other. In still a further embodiment, the insert taking theform of either a plug or a liner may be substantially simultaneouslycomolded (e.g. blowmolded) with the polymer container body so that eachis integrally joined with the other. In the event of a co-moldingprocess, the viscosities of the absorbing laden insert and the polymercontainer body should typically be approximately equal to facilitate theproper and desired location of the two phases of liquid or moltenmaterial that are molded together.

What is claimed is:
 1. An insert for aldehyde absorption having aco-continuous interconnecting channel morphology comprising at leastthree components, (a) wherein component A is selected from the group ofpolymers that are semicrystalline polymers and amorphous polymers,wherein the amorphous polymers have a shear modulus greater than about 8MPa; (b) wherein component B is a polymer; (c) wherein components A andB are immiscible within each other and, if components A and B reactafter mixing, components A and B are immiscible prior to reaction; (d)wherein component C is a particle and comprises a sulfite compound; (e)wherein the volume fraction of component A represents at least about 50%by volume of the total volume of components A, B and C; (f) wherein thepreferential affinity between component B and component C is greaterthan between component A and component C; (g) wherein at least twophases are formed, one phase is composed of a majority of component A,and the second phase is composed of a majority of component B and amajority of component C; and (h) wherein the two phases form theco-continuous interconnecting channel morphology.
 2. The insert of claim1 wherein Component C is a metabisulfite compound.
 3. The insert ofclaim 1 wherein Component C is a mixture of calcium oxide and sodiummetabisulfite.
 4. The insert of claim 1 wherein the insert is in a formof a cap liner.
 5. An insert for aldehyde absorption having aco-continuous interconnecting channel morphology comprising at leastthree components, (a) wherein component A is selected from the group ofthermoplastics that are semicrystalline polymers and amorphous, whereinthe amorphous polymers have a shear modulus greater than about 8 MPA;(b) wherein component B is a polymer; (c) wherein components A and B areimmiscible within each other and, if components A and B react aftermixing, components A and B are immiscible prior to reaction; (d) whereincomponent C is a particle and comprises a sulfite compound; (e) whereinthe volume fraction of component A represents at least about 50% byvolume of the total volume of components A, B and C; (f) wherein thepreferential affinity between component B and component C is greaterthan between component A and component C; (g) wherein at least twophases are formed, one phase is composed of a majority of component A,and the second phase is composed of a majority of component B and amajority of component C; and (h) wherein the two phases form theco-continuous interconnecting channel morphology.
 6. An insert foraldehyde absorption having a co-continuous interconnecting channelmorphology comprising at least three components, (a) wherein component Ais selected from the group of thermosets that are semicrystallinepolymers and amorphous polymers, wherein the amorphous polymers, have ashear modulus greater than about 8 MPa; (b) wherein component B is athermoplastic; (c) wherein components A and B are immiscible within eachother and, if components A and B react after mixing, components A and Bare immiscible prior to reaction; (d) wherein component C is a particleand comprises an aldehyde compound; (e) wherein the volume fraction ofcomponent A represents at least about 50% by volume of the total volumeof components A, B and C; (f) wherein the preferential affinity betweencomponent B and component C is greater than between component A andcomponent C; (g) wherein at least two phases are formed, one phase iscomposed of a majority of component A, and the second phase is composedof a majority of component B and a majority of component C; and (h)wherein the two phases form the co-continuous interconnecting channelmorphology.